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The Philippines is creating technical working groups to lead in the push for the ratification, accession to, and implementation of priority international maritime conventions
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The creation of TWGs follows the approval of three key resolutions by the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee to Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of Maritime Conventions during its first meeting for this year last August 5
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Resolutions provide for the creation of agency TWGs to lead the preparation of national interest analyses and other requirements for the ratification or accession to priority international maritime conventions, and the expansion of the ICCFRAIMC membership to enhance inter-agency coordination
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Another resolution is for the establishment of a TWG to draft a joint memorandum circular for the effective and coordinated implementation of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code in the country
The Philippines is creating technical working groups (TWGs) to lead in the push for the ratification, accession to, and implementation of priority international maritime conventions.
The creation of TWGs, according to a statement from the Maritime Industry Authority, follows the approval of three key resolutions by the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee to Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of Maritime Conventions (ICCFRAIMC) during its first meeting for this year on August 5.
The resolutions provide for the creation of agency TWGs to lead the preparation of national interest analyses and other requirements for the ratification or accession to priority international maritime conventions; the expansion of ICCFRAIMC membership to enhance inter-agency coordination; and the establishment of a TWG to draft a joint memorandum circular (JMC) for the effective and coordinated implementation of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code in the country.
The primary aim of the IMSBC Code, which replaces the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes, is to facilitate the safe stowage and shipment of solid bulk cargoes by providing information on the dangers associated with the shipment of certain types of solid bulk cargoes and instructions on the procedures to be adopted when the shipment of solid bulk cargoes is contemplated.
The Committee during the meeting also received updates on the status of priority International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments currently under consideration for ratification or accession.
Established through Executive Order No. 159, the ICCFRAIMC, formerly the Inter-agency Coordinating Committee on the Ratification and Implementation of Maritime Conventions, was established to monitor developments and consider new international maritime conventions for ratification, including measures needed to satisfy the conventions’ respective requirements, through research, monitoring and coordination with other government agencies.
Last year, ICCFRAIMC also adopted the 4th resolution on the National Work Program for the ratification, accession, and implementation of relevant IMO conventions and instruments. A National Work Program is a coordinated plan adopted by a nation’s maritime authority to align with IMO standards.
The Philippines has so far ratified/acceded to 26 IMO instruments and conventions, with the latest accessions in 2018 to six IMO conventions, including the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention), International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems in Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention), International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Protocol 1978, SOLAS Protocol 1988, International Convention on Load Lines Protocol 1988, and International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Protocol 1997 Annex VI.
